Ok, now I have the winter to think about what I should do as far as a detail. Should I go for it or just let it the way it is. I have a 74  350 , all the way to 195 HP automatic! WOW!  Nothing ever done to it. I dont think I want to remove the engine to detail it but it would look nicer if it had fresh paint on engine and motor compartment. So can anyone tell me what they went through in detailing your engine without pulling it. I thought about removing intake, valve covers, exhaust manifolds and front timing covers and cleaning and painting. Is it worth the effort to just go that way or wasted time? I also need to repair the AC and this would probably be a good time for that. I have a heated garage so the cold Pennsylvania weather wont freeze me out. What paint has worked well. Does the POR15 cover over existing paint. I will be sand blasting and beading everything once off, but the block I cant do, or the inner fender wells so I was just thinking about scuffing them up with scotch brite. I am not going to be showing this car so it is mostly just a sprucing up!
Last question would be about the exhaust manifolds, should I waste time blasting and painting them or go with a set of headers. I really like the idea of everything original. I even thought about those short manifold style headers but then I wouldnt be able to put my chrome plated trim back on around the plugs? So many questions and only a few short months before I will be able to drive it again in the spring! I better make some decisions fast and get moving on them.
OH yea, one more thing. It is another one of those white vettes! LOL
Thanks, Rodney

I painted and detailed my black 79s motor with it in the car. Took EVERYTHING off it  til I just had the block, heads, intake manifold and fuel pump still on it. Cleaned that stuff thoroughly, even jacking up the motor to remove the motor mounts so I could clean and paint under there also. Just used rattle cans to paint, probably VHT. Put a chrome Moroso 8qt. oil pan on it and headers. Blasted sheet metal parts so the paint would stick better. Had some stuff chrome plated, too. I do regret plating the original parts now but I did all this years ago before anyone ever thought C3s would be anything special.

Didn't paint any of the compartment as it was in good condition to begin. Just cleaned it good.

Mike

edit. NOTHING wrong with WHITE!!!

mkapp78792006-12-09 16:55:28

I actually pulled the engine out on the '74 to detail it, but...I was doing the NCRS thing, and it just made it easier to do. Plus, I wanted to get as much documentation on all of the "numbers" as I could. You can absolutely detail with the engine in the vehicle. Just make sure you protect the paint on the body. Good luck.